Kim Woodburn
Kim Woodburn
The 78-year-old cleaning guru and former Celebrity Big Brother star on her religious beliefs and having a bark worse than her bite
MY SECRET SKILL is knitting. I used to hand-knit sweaters and sell them. I crochet as well.
MY MOST TREASURED POSSESSION is a gorgeous ring that my husband Pete bought me. When I was young and poor, I saw a lady sitting in a car and she was very well dressed and with a very handsome man. She had her hands outside the car and there was a beautiful great big diamond ring on her finger. I thought, “My goodness me, I’ll never afford a ring like that.” It stayed in my mind. But now I’ve earned a few bob, I have very expensive jewellery. If it’s a sunny day I’ll put my hand against the window and the ring Pete gave me dazzles and I think,
“Cor, you lucky woman!”
IF I DIDN’T HAVE A TV CAREER I’d be living in a small house, on my pension and getting on like everybody else does. I’d be struggling through. Every day I say to myself, “You lucky devil.”
I HAVE MY OWN BELIEFS, but I don’t go to church. I’m spiritual and believe Jesus Christ was crucified. If I’m going to go through any pain at all, like at the dentist, I lie back and picture Jesus on the cross.
MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT is surviving. I was brought up during the Second World War in a broken home. My mum hated me because I looked like my father. She used to beat me up and I left home at 16 and lived on my own in dirty bedsits for years. I worked in factories and I had a hard time affording to live, but I got through it. It was partly luck and partly determination. But look at me now – I’m a famous old broad!
I WOULD TELL MY 16-YEAR-OLD SELF not to be so kind-hearted to people. I have been stiffed by the biggest and the best! I’m a kind person and I can’t help it. Oh, I’m made a fool of. I wish I hadn’t been so soft with people.
TO CHILL OUT I love watching telly. I have no problem chilling. I love police programmes, Storage Wars and murder shows like Miss Marple.
IN A CRISIS I WOULD CALL my uncle Neville. He’s only six years older than me. He was always good to me because I think he sensed I was a miserable
kid. I’m close to him to this day.
MY LIFE MANTRA is to be polite and nice.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED as someone with a bark worse than her bite. Inside this silly old broad I’m a massive softie.